Category Archives: Opinion

Garden City, New York, USA. April 1, 2023. Florida Governor RON DESANTIS speaks during event when the Nassau County GOP hosts the Gov. DeSantis program on The Florida Blueprint at the Cradle of Aviation, on Long Island. (© 2023 Ann Parry, fromlongisland.com) Feature photo of blog post

Nassau County GOP hosts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
April 5, 2023                      – fLI OPINION –

On April Fools Day, the Nassau County Republican Committee hosted Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at the Cradle of Aviation Museum. 

DeSantis pitched his Florida Blueprint – politics to the right of Trump – to Long Island.

Scottish Festival at Old Westbury Gardens

Garden City, N.Y. USA. April 1, 2023. Trump supporters protest outside the Cradle of Aviation Museum before the event the Nassau County GOP hosts at CAM for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Before the event started, a few dozen protestors were waving colorful pro-Trump flags at cars passing near CAM’s entrance on Charles Lindberg Blvd.

For though the Long Island event was nominally a stop on the governor’s book tour, it was more importantly an unofficial campaign stop for his undeclared presidential candidacy.

So the Nassau County GOP clearly was no longer acting all in for Trump.

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. At entrance to Cradle of Aviation Museum grounds, Trump supporters hold flags by large ‘Chinese Americans… for Trump’ banner during protest before start of event the Nassau County GOP hosts for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Tickets were free, and the first 300 attendees received a free copy of DeSantis’ new book ‘The Courage to be Free: Florida’s Blueprint for America’s Revival.’ 

• VIDEO  – As Ron DeSantis speaks, protestor shouts “Trump” repeatedly:


Early in the event, Nassau County Republican chairman JOSEPH CAIRO introduced several GOP leaders sitting in the VIP section.

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

At right, former Rep. PETE KING (R-Seaford) waves to audience when The Nassau County GOP hosts the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis event. Other GOP notables include, at front far left, former U.S. Sen. AL D’AMATO (R-NY), and, left of King & wearing red tie, Rep. ANTHONY D’ESPOSITO (R-Island Park.) (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Prominent Republicans politicians who stood up included Rep. PETE KING (R-Seaford), who attended with his wife Rosemary Weidl; former Sen. AL D’AMATO (R-NY)), who sat with his ex-wife Katuria D’Amato and their two children; and Rep. ANTHONY D’ESPOSITO (R-Island Park).

Cairo then introduced each speaker, including Nassau County Executive BRUCE BLAKEMAN, former Rep. LEE ZELDIN (R-N.Y.), and, finally, FLA Gov. RON DESANTIS.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman:

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. At left Nassau County Executive BRUCE BLAKEMAN speaks energetically at podium, as Nassau County Republican chairman JOSEPH CAIRO looks on, during event when Nassau County GOP hosts the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis event. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

former Rep. Lee Zeldin:

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. Former Rep. LEE ZELDIN(R-Shirley), the 2022 Republican candidate for N.Y. governor, speaks during event when Nassau County GOP hosts the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis event. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

– Gov. DeSantis Event –

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. Woman in audience holds ‘The Courage to Be Free,’ a book by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Nassau County GOP hosted the Gov. DeSantis program on The Florida Blueprint. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Gov. Ron DeSantis:

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. Florida Governor RON DESANTISspeaks during event when the Nassau County GOP hosts the Gov. DeSantis event. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

While speaking at the podium, Gov. DeSantis commented about the U.S. Navy F11A Tiger jet suspended overhead and how he had served in the Navy.

While earning his law degree from Harvard University, DeSantis joined the U.S. Navy in 2004, and from then to 2010 was a naval officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps. JAGS are attorneys with knowledge of civilian and military law. 

• NAVY jet above former NAVY JAG DeSantis:

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. A Grumman F-11A Tiger jet is suspended in the Cradle of Aviation Museum atrium, where Nassau County GOP hosts the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis event. Nose of jet was over stage. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

DeSantis made many comparisons between Florida and New York, and between Florida and the U.S. government.

An aside: DeSantis said so much he meant as unflattering about New York that I wondered how it struck his hosts. 

NO STATE INCOME TAX – The governor said how Florida, unlike New York, has no state income tax, and how his state has the warmer weather, though no mention was made of his state’s growing hurricane season. And he stressed in how [once COVID increased workers’ opportunity to work from home] the biggest increase in U.S. migration to Florida has come from New York recently. 

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. The Nassau County GOP hosts the Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis program on The Florida Blueprint at the Cradle of Aviation. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

CULTURE WARS – Abortion, Education, COVID 19, LGBTQ Rights, Gun Safety….

But it was Opposite Day when Gov. DeSantis presented ways his Trumpian conservative brand of anti-woke CULTURE WARS supposedly is making Florida free. For example:

• ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law

The governor portrayed his authoritarian approach to what Florida’s schools aren’t allowed to say and do as somehow increasing freedom. 

• Florida is where folk go to die from guns   cdc.gov states map 

DeSantis continued to claim Florida has lax gun safety regulations because largely unfettered gun rights are constitutionally guaranteed by the Second Amendment. 

And those regulations are getting even laxer.

On April 3rd, at a non-public event two days after he spoke on Long Island, DeSantis signed legislation allowing residents to carry a concealed loaded weapon without a permit anywhere in the state. 

“Gov Ron DeSantis; Trump flags

Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. At left, ALEX KRAEMER, from NEWSMAX, interviews young man holding ‘The Courage to Be Free,’ a book by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump supporter is at far right. The Nassau County GOP hosted the Gov. DeSantis event. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Second Amendment, ratified in 1791:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”

DeSantis’ approach to gun safety makes solid sense, as long as one ignores a few things:

1) The first half of the amendment, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,” states the reason for giving the rights is in order to maintain a well regulated Militia. How is that related to a person owning assault rifles, carrying concealed weapons without permits…?

2) In 1791 “Arms” referred to handguns or long guns that could hold one shot at a time.

3) Florida’s rate of deaths due to gunfire is about 3X that of New York, which has significantly stronger gun safety regulation. cdc.gov states map 

with faint praise:

Though Ron DeSantis isn’t quite as big a danger to America as insurrectionist Donald Trump is, the United States of America needs far better than either.

Thankfully, they won’t be our only candidates, Republican or otherwise, for president in 2024.

FEATURE PHOTO (at top of post) Garden City, N.Y., USA. April 1, 2023. Florida Governor RON DESANTIS speaks during event when the Nassau County GOP hosts his program on The Florida Blueprint, at the Cradle of Aviation on Long Island. (© 2023 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com) 

Gov. Ron DeSantis event on Long Island: my PHOTO GALLERY

Everytown for Gun Safety

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America

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North Merrick, New York, U.S. June 4, 2020. Black Lives Matter March heads east on Jerusalem Ave and then turns north onto Bellmore Avenue, toward eastbound entrance to Southern State Parkway. Shortly before protestors arrive, Nassau County Police officers park several patrol cars at intersection to stop and divert traffic to make path for peaceful march of largely of young marchers, black and white . Many marchers wore face masks, some masks covering mouth and nose, some masks lowered below mouth as they chanted. Young black man with megaphone led the chant: megaphone man: NO JUSTICE marchers: NO PEACE megaphone man: NO RACIST marchers: POLICE Signs marchers carried included: RIP GEORGE FLOYD - IGNORANCE IS ALWAYS AFRAID OF CHANGE - BLM! - BLACK LIVES MATTER - NO RACIST POLICE

from Merrick, Long Island: Black Lives Matter

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
June 5, 2020

peaceful march in turbulent June

VIDEO – Black Lives Matter March, N. Merrick, NY, Thursday, June 4, 2020:

⇔ Last night, while driving home shortly before 9 PM, I accidentally found myself in the path of a Black Lives Matter March about to turn onto Bellmore Ave from Jerusalem Ave in North Merrick.

When marchers turned, they passed between my car and several Nassau County Police patrol cars parked to block the intersection, so marchers had a safe, clear path.  [google maps]

I held my iPhone out the driver’s window to film the marchers, many spread out for social distancing. Most were young, some black, some white, and most wore masks, either covering their mouths and noses or under their chins.

They carried signs with messages including: RIP George Floyd  –  BLM!  –  Black Lives Matter  – No Racist Police – Ignorance is always afraid of change

A man with a megaphone led his fellow marchers in a chant:  No Justice – No Peace – No Racist – Police

After they continued north for a few minutes, police cleared a path through the intersection, and neighboring cars and I continued south. 

Later, I learned the marchers were part of a massive, peaceful Merrick march that started earlier that night on Sunrise Highway and ultimately blocked traffic on the Southern State Parkway

NAACP.org  •  BlackLivesMatter.com

 ⇔ This Tuesday night, June 2, self-proclaimed reporter got over 10,000 views on facebook when he live-streamed his take on about 30 people at Merrick Road, Merrick, protesting against Black Lives Matters supporters who wanted to march east from Trader Joe’s to Massapequa.

The ugly comments that anti-BLM March group made about the protestors were exacerbated by the videographer repeatedly and inaccurately referring to that small group as The People of Merrick, as if they represented the entire community.

As an aside:  One of the anti-BLM protestors commented how someone was wearing a mask (following CDC guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic) and asked, rhetorically, if the person was a coward.

It’s an anti-mask sentiment I suspect not only the chief executive of the United States but also the COVID-19 virus – if sentient – would share.

 ⇔ 48 minutes ago, today, an email from NY State Senator John Brooks (District 8) landed in my inbox:

Last night, we witnessed a second wave of protests over the tragic death of George Floyd. In good part, this second march was the direct result of spiteful remarks gone viral, made by ignorant people flanking the peaceful march the day before. Let’s be clear, in Merrick there exists an overall community of wonderful people who genuinely believe in the fundamental principles upon which this nation was founded. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness combined with the understanding that all are created equal provides the basis of outlook, action, and acceptance of any Merokian I have come to know.

The remarks made by these ignorant few do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the people of the Merrick community or, for that matter, any community on Long Island. Yesterday, many Merokians walked along in protest, while many others stood on sidewalks providing support, applause, and even bottles of water to the passing marchers. In response to the tragedy of George Floyd, I witnessed members of this community march in support of the most basic of human rights, and I was proud; In response to vile words of thinly veiled hatred by a minority of instigators peddling divisiveness, I witnessed this community come together once again to protest that hatred in a peaceful way, and I was inspired.

Merrick is a community of fairness and understanding, of acceptance and fellowship, and I am proud to represent this community in the NY State Senate.

Sincerely,    John E Brooks

I largely agree with Sen. Brooks’ above statement.

⇔ Walk the Walk

Segregation is rampant on Long Island, and – as Newsday’s undercover investigation found – it didn’t happen by accident. [*see links below] 

Yes, we need to Talk the Talk of the truth that Black Lives Matter and deserve equal justice, and to Walk the Walk by supporting/participating in Black Lives Matter protest marches.

Be we also need to take the countless steps needed to have our community, our Long Island communities, be more diverse and reflect the truth that Black Lives Matter and deserve equal justice, housing, health care, education and job opportunities….

*Newsday  – Three-year investigation uncovers widespread unequal treatment by real estate agents on Long Island (2019):

• Undercover Investigation:  racial steering by real estate agents

• Opinion/EDITORIAL (Updated Nov. 17, 2019): Segregation’s stain on Long Island can be overcome

FEATURE PHOTO at top of post: Merrick, New York, U.S. June 4, 2020. North Merrick, New York, U.S. June 4, 2020. Black Lives Matter March heads north on Bellmore Ave in direction of eastbound entrance to Southern State Parkway.

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The Danger of a Single Story: “Show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become.” — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14; 2018. Protesting gun violence, Mepham H. S. students walk out of class, as part of a nationwide walkout in solidarity with shooting victims, and a demand for U.S. laws to reduce gun violence. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Bellmore-Merrick Students Walkout to Protest Gun Violence: Déjà Vu

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From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com)
March 14, 2018

Today, over a hundred Wellington C. Mepham High School students walked out of class from 10:00 to 10:17 AM, one month after a teen used a semi-automatic rifle to kill 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas H. S. in Parkland, FLA.  

North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14, 2018. Protesting gun violence, Mepham H. S. students walk out of class for 17 minutes; starting 10:00 AM; one minute for each student shot and killed last month at a Parkland, Florida, H.S. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14, 2018. Protesting gun violence, Mepham H. S. students walk out of class for 17 minutes; starting 10:00 AM; one minute for each student shot and killed last month at a high school in Parkland, Florida. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

2018 NATIONAL STUDENT WALKOUT: 17 MINUTES

Mepham’s walkout was part of a nationwide protest to show solidarity with student shooting victims, and to demand U.S. lawmakers enact regulations and laws to reduce gun violence.

By 9:45 AM, several Nassau County patrol cars were parked on Camp Avenue in front of Mepham. School administration had requested police “just in case.” But neither the officers nor the school security guard, standing a distance from the walkout, needed to interact with protestors.

North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14, 2018. Security Guard in red jacket watches as Mepham High School students, protesting gun violence, walk out of class for 17 minutes; starting 10:00 am.  ( © 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14, 2018. Security Guard in red jacket watches as Mepham High School students, protesting gun violence, walk out of class for 17 minutes; starting 10:00 am.  ( © 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Several adults drove or walked to Mepham and stopped to look at the protest held at the west side of the school building. The most visible focal point from the street was four students standing on a bench and holding up big handmade protest signs. 

North Bellmore; New York; USA. March 14; 2018. CRYSTAL PHOTIOU, of Bellmore, drove to Mepham to watch students walkout to protest gun violence.

[Photo digitally altered to remove color from car/driver] North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14, 2018. CRYSTAL PHOTIOU, of Bellmore, drove to Mepham H. S. to watch students walkout to protest gun violence. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

CRYSTAL PHOTIOU, of Bellmore, stopped her car in front of Mepham to watch the protest. When asked why she was there this morning, Photiou said:

“I wanted to see the kids. I wanted to see our future. That’s why I came.
“We have to do this. We have to support them. Absolutely.”

Midway through the walkout, a car with a man and woman in it stopped in front of the school. The driver said they’d come from the student walkout at Calhoun High School – which, like Mepham, is in the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District. Smiling, she added there were so many students protesting outside Calhoun it looked like the whole school was participating in the walkout.

Déjà Vu:  VIETNAM WAR 50 YEARS AGO

The Vietnam War started not long after after I was born. By the late 1960’s, protests, notably including student protests, were helping turn public opinion against having American troops in Vietnam, which significantly helped lead to the withdrawal of our last troops by 1973.

I first began to understand the cost of the Vietnam War in 1968 when I was a junior at Calhoun High School. A military draft seemed guaranteed in the near future (in fact, the 1st draft lottery for Vietnam War was held Sept. 1969), and one of my closest friends, Tom, a senior, waited anxiously to find out if he was accepted into a military band, considered a safer assignment than the alternative.

My senior year, a small but earnest group of students held a walkout to protest U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. 

And in Calhoun’s Main Lobby, the plaque commemorating graduates who died serving in Vietnam had even more brass nameplates than expected for a school our size.

When I was an undergraduate student at SUNY New Paltz, Vietnam War protests were an inescapable part of life on campus, starting with the protest songs during Orientation Week concerts, just weeks after and 50 miles away from the Woodstock festival…  including a sit-in at the Administration Building around the time of the Kent State massacre, May 1970…  and continuing until our troops totally left Vietnam, shortly before I graduated.

North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14, 2018. Protesting gun violence, Mepham H. S. students walk out of class for 17 minutes; starting 10:00 AM; one minute for each student shot and killed last month at a Parkland, Florida, H.S. (© 2018 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

North Bellmore; New York; USA. March 14; 2018. Mepham High School students, protesting gun violence and some holding protest signs, walk out of class for 17 minutes; from 10:00 am to 10:17 am EST; one minute for each student shot and killed last month in a Parkland, Florida, high school. Protest sign message: Enough is #ENOUGH, School Walkout, #NeverAgain. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

SIGNS OF THE TIMES

Properly motivated lawmakers – who replace incumbents, when necessary – can pass regulations and laws that both keep Second Amendment rights intact and also help significantly reduce the amount of gun violence, which is significantly, outrageously worse here than in other countries.

Today’s National Student Walkout to Protest Gun Violence is a hopeful step in the right direction. On March 24th there’s the March for Our Lives Rally in Washington, DC, and local communities. After that it’s time for the next steps.  

#ENOUGH      #NeverAgain 

FEATURE PHOTO  (at top of post):  North Bellmore; NY; USA. March 14; 2018. Protesting gun violence, Mepham H. S. students walk out of class, as part of a nationwide walkout in solidarity with shooting victims, and a demand for U.S. laws to reduce gun violence. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

    • UPDATE  April 8, 2021 – President Biden announces new executive actions on gun control  CNN Politics

Protect Children, Not Guns:  ChildrensDefenseFund.org

Mepham Students Walkout:  my PHOTO GALLERY

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    • 2018/04: Steve Israel Brings Out His BIG GUNS on Long Island
    • 2016/04: Hillary Clinton Panel on Gun Violence Prevention, Port Washington